No matter what kind of roof you have or want, all roofs are made up of a few basic components.
Structure
The rafters and trusses that support the decking.
Decking/sheathing
The boards or sheet materials fastened to the roof rafters to cover the house.
Underlayment
Sheets of asphalt-saturated material. Used as a second layer of protection for the roof decking.
Roof covering
Shingles, tiles, etc., that protect the decking from weather. This is the first layer of protection for your roof decking.
Drainage
The features of the roof's design such as slope, shape, layout, etc., that determine its ability to shed water.
Flashing
Sheet metal (in most cases) laid into the various joists and valleys of a roof system to prevent water leaks.
Roofing Pitch
Also known as "slope", pitch is the measure of how "steep" a roof is. For example, if a roof is "4 in 12", the roof rises 4 inches for every
horizontal run of 12 inches. The pitch of the roof is a big factor in determining the kinds of materials that can be used and the longevity
of the roof. Usually, a steeper roof (higher pitch) will last longer due to its better drainage capabilities.
Roof Type
What kind of roofing system you need or can obtain will depend largely on the type of roof currently on your home.
